Should I log this dive?

[Deskjockey]

I just got back from diving what is basically a very large pond. I wanted to work on bouyancy and scull-free diving. The dive was 24 minutes, max depth of 23 feet and my control was horrible. Once I pressed my inflator instead deflator and was topside before I could correct it. Oh yeah, this is my first o-fish-ul dive that wasn't part of a class, been certified all of 3 weeks. I was not diving solo although I wish I was because I finished with 500 psi after 25 minutes and the next closest diver had 2000. Are there certain criteria for deciding if it's a loggable (is this a word) dive? dj

 

[nalfein]

If you're wondering which dives you should be logging, go ahead and log them all. As long as you are using your training and learning, it's worth recording.

The log book is a way for you to keep track of your experience in the water. Keep an accurate record of the dives, you can use it later to track your progress, plus you'll get a kick out of it in a few years when you go back and review. It's also a good way to keep tabs on the particulars of the different sites you've been to. With time, you'll develop your own criteria as to what's important to log.

Don't worry about your air consumption, it will get much better as you become a more comfortable and competant diver. Enjoy...

dive safe

chris

 

[Sideband]

I'd log it. Make generous use of the notes section and write down what you had trouble with. If you don't log it you won't be able to track your progress as you improve. This dive was 23 minutes with 500lbs air left..next dive..27 minutes?...30 minutes? I think you will find that as you start mastering some of those problems that you will become more comfortable and air usage will drop. This is the place to record it.
What is the alternative? Waiting untill you have a perfect dive to start logging them?

Joe

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I would log it. Anything over 5 minutes I log, if only because writing it down will help me in learning the whats and whys of the dive. Since I shore dive, most of my dives are under 20ft. So if you think that you did not go deep enough, then I need to cross off half my dives. 24 minutes is plenty of time to be neeth the surface.
With practice and patience, you will get your bouyancy down, and weighted properly. Then your bottom time will increase. Good thing you were with a buddy. As long as you were honest with your buddy on your experience level, they were probably happy to be there with you. If they complained, find a new buddy.

 

[Scubakevdm]

Greater than 20', longer than 20 minutes.

 

[jagfish]

Yes!

 

[gfisher4792]

Log it. Then when you finish logging your 300th dive, you can look back at that dive with nostalgia and smile about it.

 

[jbd]

There is a thread around here somewhere in which the topic is what constitiutes a loggable dive for training purposes. While there are some variations between the various agenciesin general, anything deeper than 15 to 20 feet and longer than 15 to 20 minutes counts as a loggable dive for training purposes. This may become important if you decide to become a DM or AI or Instructorlater in your diving career.

Sideband's post is excellent advice. Also keep in mind that diving to depths shallower than 33fsw or 34ffw is an excellent place to really develope your bouyancy control skills (think Boyles Law for the reason) I recommend you make good use of this pond.

As others have noted; don't worry about your air consumption too much right now, it will improve as you gain experience. What you should do now regarding air consumption is to track what your SAC rate is and include that into your predive planning. You'll need this kind of info as you continue your training.

 

[Deskjockey]

Everybody knew my non-skill level going in and there was nothing but encouragement. They all said the same thing about my air usage. "Maybe you'll take 4 breaths to a tank next time." I'm learning that I really don't know nothing about diving but I like it anyway. During my checkout dives I thought the comment section was so big in my dive log, now I don't think it's big enough, thanks, dj

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I really don't know nothing about diving but I like it anyway. During my checkout dives I thought the comment section was so big in my dive log, now I don't think it's big enough, thanks, dj

That's why I make my own log books. It reads more like a diary.